EU AI Act advances

Ten EU countries pushed back on Germany’s bid at Hannover Messe to carve industrial AI out of the EU AI Act, keeping the law’s single rulebook intact. (politico.eu). (politico.eu) The resistance surfaced during meetings and written council papers this month after Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other German officials urged lighter rules for factory-floor AI at HANNOVER MESSE on April 20–24, 2026. (hannovermesse.de). (hannovermesse.de) According to reporting and Council documents, a group of ten member states — variously named in drafts as including France, Italy, Spain and Poland — objected to proposals that would shift industrial AI oversight into sector rules. (dig.watch). (dig.watch) Industry safety body TÜV (TÜV‑Verband) used HANNOVER MESSE to call for fast, uniform EU rules for industrial AI and warned against a “regulatory vacuum” and patchwork national laws. (tuev-verband.de). (tuev-verband.de) TÜV‑Verband managing director Dr. Joachim Bühler said the EU Act should be implemented promptly because “Künstliche Intelligenz macht gerade den Sprung in die physische Welt von Maschinen, Robotik und Geräten.” (firmenpresse.de). (firmenpresse.de) The timing matters: the AI Act’s major enforcement milestones are staggered, with a large wave of obligations — including many for high‑risk systems — scheduled to apply from 2 August 2026. (ai-act-service-desk.ec.europa.eu). (ai-act-service-desk.ec.europa.eu) German industry groups such as Siemens publicly backed easing rules at the fair, arguing sectoral laws risk “double regulation,” while digital rights groups and safety bodies warned that carving out industry would undermine harmonised safety standards. (siliconrepublic.com; produktion.de). (siliconrepublic.com) EU ambassadors were due to meet this week and negotiators from the Parliament, Council and Commission plan trilogue talks next week to try to reconcile positions — the next formal chance to decide whether industrial AI stays in the AI Act. (politico.eu; consilium.europa.eu). (politico.eu)